Arts & Issues 2013-2014 Season

Dr. John C. Mather

Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist Dr. John C. Mather will be at SIUE to share his groundbreaking research as part of the Shaw Lecture series. Mather currently serves as senior astrophysicist in the Observational Cosmology Laboratory at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and senior project scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope. His research concentrates on infrared astronomy and cosmology. Mather and George F. Smoot won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2006 for findings supporting the Big Bang theory.

This engagement is supported by the Department of Physics’ Shaw Lecture series.

Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul

World-renowned Irish-American fiddler Eileen Ivers demonstrates a blend of traditional and contemporary violin music that captivates a wide range of audiences. Deemed “the Jimi Hendrix of the violin” by The New York Times, Ivers is a Grammy-awarded musician and has been named as the nine-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion. She has played with the London Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra at The Kennedy Center and the Boston Pops Orchestra. Additionally, she has performed with Riverdance, The Chieftains, Sting, Hall & Oates, and Al Di Meola, and for presidents and royalty around the world.

The SIUE and SIUC Combined Orchestras

The Three Tenor Concert

Michael Mishra, conductor
Edward Benyas, conductor

Monday, November 18, 2013
7:30 p.m.
Dunham Hall Theater

Once again, the orchestras of both Southern Illinois University campuses will be combined for one exceptional musical event. Michael Mishra, professor of music and director of Orchestral Studies at SIUE, and Edward Benyas, music director of the SIUC Symphony Orchestra, will conduct the concert. The Three Tenor Concert celebrates the 200th anniversary of Verdi and Wagner and will include SIUE’s Marc Schapman, director of graduate studies in music, and two surprise guests to be announced later.

Get your tickets early! The last time Arts and Issues presented this concert, it sold out entirely!

Lehrer Dance

A brilliant blend of dance and storytelling

Saturday, February 1, 2014
7:30 p.m.
Dunham Hall Theater

Lehrer Dance combines both modern and jazz dance styles to present unique choreography that has been described as “breathtaking” by Dance Magazine, “stunning” by TheBuffalo News and “brilliant” by theChicago Sun-Times. Based in Buffalo, N.Y., the company is directed by Jon Lehrer, whose distinctive style has earned him worldwide recognition. Demonstrating the experience of life and the human condition, Lehrer’s productions are not only artistic and inspiring but accessible and humorous as well. The Buffalo News describes Lehrer Dance as “…a company that has figured out how to strike that elusive balance between art and entertainment.”

This engagement is supported by the Arts Midwest touring Fund, a program of Arts Midwest, which is generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional contributions from the Illinois Arts Council.

Dr. Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin, Ph.D., has gained worldwide recognition for her advocacy, research and publications about autism. Having been diagnosed as autistic at age three, Grandin has overcome great challenges and is known as “the most accomplished and well-known adult with autism in the world.” In “Different Kinds of Minds,” she will discuss the unique ways the autistic mind works and how this distinct type of thinking is essential and beneficial to society.

Black Violin

Classically trained violinists Wilner “Wil B” Baptiste and Kevin “Kev Marcus” Sylvester present a fresh fusion of classical music, rock, R&B, pop and hip-hop with Black Violin. Accompanied by drummer Jermaine “Beatdown” McQueen, turntable DJ Dwayne “DJTK” Dalal and cellist Joseph “Joe Cello” Valbrun, Baptiste and Sylvester produce a sound that breaks through the barriers of genre. British newspaper The Independent hailed Black Violin as one of the top five bands at the 2013 SXSW Music Festival, and the group performed for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the 2013 Presidential Inauguration.

James Carville and Alberto Gonzales

former US Attorney on stage with America’s best-known political consultant

One stage! One night!

Tuesday, May 6, 2014 (rescheduled from original date, April 3, 2014, due to inclement weather)
7:30 p.m.
Meridian Ballroom, Morris University Center

This blockbuster event pairs James Carville and Alberto Gonzales together for a one-time debate. The first part of the program will center on immigration, while the second half will address some of the hot issues of our times. James “The Ragin’ Cajun” Carville is America’s best-known political consultant. His long list of electoral successes evidences a knack for steering overlooked campaigns to unexpected landslide victories and for remaking political underdogs into upset winners. His most prominent victory was in 1992 when he helped William Jefferson Clinton win the presidency. Appointed the 80th Attorney General of the United States, Alberto Gonzales became the first Hispanic to lead the nation’s largest law enforcement office. Former White House Counsel to President George W. Bush, Gonzales played a vital role in the administration’s fight in the war on terror and addressing the changing role of the Department of Justice post 9/11.

This engagement is presented by Arts & Issues, the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences’ Colloquium and the Greater St. Louis Humanities Festival.